Driving in the UAE as a visitor: licence, international permit and car rental

Can visitors drive in the UAE?

Yes. The UAE traffic law exempts people who are in the country for non-residence purposes from holding a UAE licence, as long as they hold a valid international or foreign licence that the UAE accepts. Which document you need depends on where your licence was issued.

The recognition list, updated on 4 June 2026, covers: Albania, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan. South Korea is on the list for licence exchange only, not for driving as a visitor.

• Get the permit before you travel. Arrange it in the country that issued your licence. The UAE’s own international licence is issued only to holders of a UAE licence.
• Residents need a UAE licence. Recognition is for stays that are not for residence. Once you hold a residence visa you need a UAE licence, which listed countries’ licences can be exchanged for. An international licence issued in the UAE is for driving abroad and is not valid inside the UAE.
• The licence must be one the UAE accepts. Driving on a foreign licence the UAE does not recognise carries a fine of AED 2,000 to AED 10,000 for a first offence.

Lists differ between authorities and change. Dubai’s RTA publishes its own list, and the Ministry updates Markhoos. Check the Ministry of Interior page for your country before you fly.

What you need to rent from Darb Rent

You will usually need a valid driving licence and an Emirates ID or passport; the rental company confirms exactly what is needed for your booking. By law, a rental company has to check that the renter’s licence is valid and recognised in the UAE, so bring the original documents.

On the legal driving age, official pages differ. The 2024 traffic law sets 17 as the minimum age for a driving licence, while the UAE government portal still lists 18 for cars and light vehicles. Rental age limits are a separate matter set by the rental company and its insurer.

Sharjah Airport pickup and delivery

Delivery is available across Sharjah and to Sharjah International Airport; the rental company confirms availability and any delivery charge on WhatsApp.

Sharjah Airport is about 13 km south-east of the city, and about 16 km by road from our office in Al Qasimiya. To arrange a handover there, send your flight number and landing time on WhatsApp. Sending a photo of your licence at the same time lets the team confirm your documents before you land.

Distances and drive times from Sharjah

Dubai is about half an hour away without traffic, Abu Dhabi about two hours and the east coast under an hour and a half. All figures below are approximate, measured by road from our office in Al Qasimiya with no traffic.

Allow much longer between Sharjah and Dubai at commuting hours. For the east coast and the desert, see the Khor Fakkan road trip and the Mleiha day trip.

Key road rules for visitors

Drive on the right, keep to the speed shown on the signs, and wear a seat belt in every seat. Fines are federal, so the same rules apply in every emirate.

• Speed: limits are set road by road and shown on signs. Inside residential areas the limit is no more than 40 km/h. Speeding fines start at AED 300 and no official Sharjah source states a radar tolerance, so do not count on one.
• Seat belts: required for the driver and all passengers. The fine is AED 400.
• Children: a child under 4 must be in a child seat, and a child under 10 or shorter than 145 cm may not sit in the front. Each is a AED 400 fine.
• Phones: using a phone in your hand while driving costs AED 800 and 4 black points.
• Alcohol: driving under the influence is a criminal offence, punished with jail, a fine of AED 20,000 to AED 100,000, or both.
• Red lights: AED 1,000, 12 black points and a 30-day impound.
• Accidents: report them. In Sharjah, minor accidents can be reported through the Rafid app.

Three guides cover the costs visitors ask about most: Sharjah parking, Salik and Darb tolls and Sharjah traffic fines.